Judo Federation Rules That Saudi Woman Can’t Wear Headscarf

LONDON (AP) — The International Judo Federation said one of Saudi Arabia’s first female athletes selected for the Olympics would not be allowed to wear a head scarf during competition.

Marius Vizer, the federation president, announced Thursday that Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani could not fight with a head scarf, saying the move was “according to the principles and spirit of judo.” The federation also cited safety concerns.

“In judo we use strangleholds and chokeholds so the hijab could be dangerous,” said Nicolas Messner, a federation spokesman.

Asian judo federations have previously allowed Muslim women to wear the hijab during major competitions, but Messner said the IJF had decided against it.

“The only difference between competitors should be their level of judo,” he said, explaining that the sport aims to be nonpolitical.

The ruling could jeopardize Shahrkhani’s participation in the Olympics. Saudi leaders only agreed to send women to the Games for the first time on the condition they be allowed to wear appropriate clothing for Muslim women, including a head scarf.

Shahrkhani was given a special invitation from the International Olympic Committee to compete in London. She has never fought at the international level before and has mostly been coached by her father, a judo referee.

Headscarves are allowed in taekwondo; the World Taekwondo Federation changed its rules in recent years to accommodate Islamic traditions. Some of the strongest Olympic medal contenders are from Egypt and Iran. But all taekwondo fighters also wear a headguard which covers any head scarves.

After previously banning headscarves on the field, FIFA, the governing body of soccer, now allows them.

Sarah Attar, Saudi Arabia’s other female Olympic athlete, is expected wear a head scarf when she competes in distance running.